What is Taraweeh prayer?
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims have the option to perform Taraweeh, a special nightly prayer. Typically, the Quran is recited aloud in its entirety, and worshippers take time to reflect on its teachings.
The term “Taraweeh” is derived from the Arabic word ‘Raahah’, which means “to take a short rest”. This refers to the breaks worshippers take after completing every four rakats of the prayer.
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Origin of Taraweeh prayer
The Taraweeh prayer is a special prayer that is performed during the holy month of Ramadan by Muslims all over the world. The origins of this prayer date back to the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the early Muslim community in Medina.
According to historical accounts, the Taraweeh prayer was not initially performed as a congregational prayer during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. Instead, it was performed individually by the Prophet and some of his companions.
It wasn’t until the era of the second Caliph of Islam, Umar ibn Al-Khattab (RA), that the Taraweeh prayer was introduced as a congregational prayer. Umar (RA) noticed that the Prophet and some of his companions used to perform the Taraweeh prayer individually and he thought it would be beneficial to establish it as a communal practice.
He gathered the people together in the mosque to perform the Taraweeh prayer in congregation, led by a designated imam. The Taraweeh prayer then became an established part of the Ramadan worship practices of the Muslim community.
Today, the Taraweeh prayer is still performed in mosques all around the world during Ramadan. It is seen as an opportunity for Muslims to come together in worship and to connect with the Quran, as the entire Quran is typically recited over the course of the month during the Taraweeh prayer.
Method of the Taraweeh Prayer
The method of performing Taraweeh prayer is similar to that of the regular congregational prayer (Salah). The Taraweeh prayer is seen as an important opportunity for Muslims to connect with the Quran and to seek spiritual growth during the month of Ramadan. It is a communal practice that brings Muslims together in worship and strengthens their faith.
- Pray Isha (four raka’at)
- Pray two raka’at sunnah of Isha.
- Set your intention to start praying taraweeh/qiyam.
- Take a short break.
- Pray the next four raka’at (again, two raka’at at a time).
- Here, you can either end your taraweeh and move on to witr, or continue praying.
- Pray witr (either one or three raka’at).
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Rewards of praying Taraweeh
Taraweeh is sunnah muakkadah, which is the highest form of sunnah. If you miss it without a valid excuse then there is sin upon you. If you pray it then you get the reward of following a sunnah. You will also get the reward of praying in congregation if you pray with others in the masjid. For every letter you recite or listen to of the Quran within salah, then you will be rewarded with 10 good deeds. Now imagine listening to the entire Quran.
Completing one Quran is sunnah and completing it more than once is mustahab. The reason completing the Quran is sunnah in taraweeh is because it is something the rightly-guided companions and successors of Nabi SAW did. It comes in a hadith:
Hold onto my sunnah, and the sunnah of the rightly-guided khulafaa. Bite onto them with your molar teeth. Ibn Majah
Another reward is that for those who have memorized the Quran, it is a perfect time for them to recap and strengthen what they have learnt. So many of us forget everything throughout the year, then when Ramadan comes and we have to lead, we learn everything again no matter how difficult it is for us.
Can you pray taraweeh at home?
Today, most people offer it in mosques in congregation. This is not obligatory. Anyone can offer it at home, with his family or friends, or alone. It is all acceptable. However, in congregation it earns a greater reward. Any salah offered with jama’ah (congregation) is rewarded at 25-27 times its normal reward when offered alone.
In many countries, people prefer to have a long prayer, with the whole of the Quran recited in this prayer over the month of Ramadan. This is a great practice and long may it continue.
To pray taraweeh with congregation is sunnah alal kifayah. This means that if there is no taraweeh prayed with jama’ah in an area then the whole area will be sinful.
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How many rakats are in taraweeh prayers?
It can be anything from 8 to 36 rakats in Taraweeh as these are optional prayers. There is a difference of opinion among the scholars regarding the number. Some people pray 8 rakats, while others pray 20 rakats for Taraweeh then the witr prayer. Imam Maalik said it is 36 rakats.
The more preferred opinion is praying 20 rakats. The sahaba prayed 20 and they all agreed that there was 20. So we can’t come along and say we will pray 8. If the majority of the ummah says 20 then we must follow the majority.
If everyone prays 20 and someone decides to pray 8, so he leaves after 8 have been completed, then they are missing out on so much reward:
- The sunnah of praying 20 rakats
- The sunnah of listening to the entire Quran
- The sunnah of praying witr with congregation in Ramadan
Taraweeh prayer Hadith
Here are some Hadiths regarding Taraweeh prayer:
- “Whoever prays during the night in Ramadan with faith and seeking his reward from Allah will have his past sins forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari)
- “The Taraweeh prayer is a sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and whoever performs it with the Imam until he finishes, Allah will write for him the reward of spending the whole night in prayer.” (Sunan Ibn Majah)
- “Whoever stands in prayer during the nights of Ramadan with faith and hoping for reward from Allah, his past sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Muslim)
- “Whoever establishes the night prayer during Ramadan with sincere faith and hoping for reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari)
- “The one who stands in prayer on the night of Qadr (Laylatul Qadr) with faith and seeking reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven.” (Sahih Bukhari)
